en form must be dispensed
with. A man attacked by assassins will call for help to those nearest
him, and will not think himself bound to silence till a magistrate may
come to his aid. It would be unwise in the highest degree, that the
colonists should be disgusted with either France or us; for it might
then be made to depend on the moderation of another power, whether what
appears a chimera may not become a reality. I have thought it necessary
to go thus fully into this transaction, and particularly as to the
sentiments I have expressed to them, that you may be enabled to place
our proceedings in their true light.

Our Indian expeditions have proved successful. As yet, however, they
have not led to peace. Mr. Hammond has lately arrived here, as Minister
Plenipotentiary from the court of London, and we propose to name one
to that court in return. Congress will probably establish the ratio
of representation by a bill now before them, at one representative for
every thirty thousand inhabitants. Besides the newspapers, as usual, you
will receive herewith the census lately taken, by towns and counties as
well as by States.

I am, with great and sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

LETTER LXXXV.--TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, December 5,1791

TO THE ATTORNEY GENERAL.

Philadelphia, December 5,1791.

Dear Sir,

The enclosed memorial from the British minister, on the case of Thomas
Pagan, containing a complaint of injustice in the dispensations of
law by the courts of Massachusetts to a British subject, the President
approves of my referring it to you, to report thereon your opinion of
the proceedings, and whether any thing, and what, can or ought to be
done by the government in consequence thereof.

I am, with great and sincere esteem, Dear Sir, your most obedient and
most humble servant,

Th: Jefferson.

[_The Memorial of the British minister_.]

The undersigned, his Britannic Majesty's Minister Plenipotentiary to the
United States of America, has the honor of laying before the Secretary
of State, the following brief abstract of the case of Thomas Pagan, a
subject of his Britannic Majesty, now confined in the prison of Boston,
under an execution issued against him out of the Supreme Judicial Court
of Massachusetts Bay. To this abstract, the undersigned has taken the
liberty of annexing some observations, which naturally arise out of the
statement of the t